Method of stemming and cleaning tobacco



June 7, 1932. c G. MAXWELL METHOD OF STEMMING AND CLEANING TOBACCO Filed Oct. 2, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet \W al; Z

m N M T T A June 7, 1932. c. e. MAXWELL METHOD STEMMING AND CLEANING TOBAQCO Filed Oct. 2, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NM m June 7, 1932. c. G. MAXWELL 1,861,705

METHOD OF STEMMING AND CLEANING TOBACCO Filed Oct. 2, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q i Saaxaxcacaa! IN VEN TOR.

J ATTO EYS.

Patented June 7, 1932 warren stares PATENT QFFEQE CHARLES GREEN MAXWELL, 0F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY METHOD OF STEMMING AND CLEANING- TOBACCO Application. filed October 2, 1928. Serial No. 309,761

This invention is an improvement in methods of stemming and cleaning tobacco, and in apparatus for carrying out the improved method, and more particularly in an improvement on the methods and apparatus set forth in Patent No. 1,588,511, granted June 15, 1926.

In the method forming the subject matter of the said patent, the tobacco is blended in hands, separated into two portions, one composed of the tips and lighter stein portions, the other of the heavier stem portions, the lighter portions being removed from the machine, while the heavier stem portions are subjected to a succession of disintegrating operations, for separating the lamina from the stems, and the separated lamina is removed from the machine by traveling screens, against which it is held by air pressure.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus, by the operation of which the output is materially increased, the initial cost of the equipment reduced, as also the power required to operate the same, and wherein the tobacco is thoroughly cleaned, without unduly reducing the size of the smaller particles.

Another object is the provision in the system of a new and improved type of breaker or thrasher for disintegrating the leaves.

Another object is the provision of a new and improved type of blower for separating the lighter portions from the heavier by means of a blast or blasts of air acting directly upon the falling leaf and stem portions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel method of and apparatus for stripping the tobacco, wherein the leaves or leaf portions are subjected to the successive action of a series of disintegrating and air-blast operations for removing and separating the detached lamina from the circulation between successive disintegrating operations by a blast or blasts of air directed through the leaf portions coming from the disintegrators, and wherein the detached lamina will be blown directly from the system at selected stations and without encountering obstructions in the discharge path, such as would tend to lower the capacity of the apparatus or unduly reduce the size of the stripped leaf portions.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part hereof Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the entire machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a pair of blowers, with one in section.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

The mechanism for blending the tobacco and for delivering it to the remaining mechanism is indicated generally at A, and includes an endless belt 1, suitably supported, and arranged with its upper run horizontal. On each side of the belt are the stacks f tobacco from which the hands 3 are removed, and laid upon the belt as shown. The belt is supported by the usual rollers, one of which is indicated at 4, and this roller is connected to a suitable prime mover by a belt 5.

The hands are laid on the belt 1 with their long axes transverse to the belt, and at the delivery end mechanism is arranged for dividing the leaves into two portions, one of which contains all of the large woody stem portion which it is desired to remove, while the other contains only finer stem portions, which are utilizable in the usual processes to which the tobacco is subjected.

The said mechanism which is fully shown and described in Patent No. 1,589,823, of June 15, 1926, includes a table 6, supported above the floor, and a plurality of endless belts 7, so arranged that the upper runs of the belts travel above the table top side by side, but spaced apart at their adjacent edges. The said runs travel in the same direction, and at the end remote from the blending mechanism, the belts deliver through openings in the table into chutes 8 and 9, for the stem and tip portions respectively.

A pair of holding chains cooperates with each of the belts 7, the chains 10 of the pairs being supported by shafts 11 journaled transversely of the table, one of which is driven in any suitable manner, and the chains are of a length such that there will be a relatively large amount of slack in the lower run of each, the lower runs cooperating with the belts 7.

A pair of cooperating disk cutters, one of which is indicated at 12, is arranged between the pairs of chains, and between the belts, for dividing the leaves into two portions, as they are carried between the cutters by the belts and chains. One cutter is arranged above and the other below the table, and the cutters lap, the common chord of the lapping segments being at about the level of the upper faces of the belts. The cutters are driven from the prime mover by a belt 13, and they are geared together as indicated at 1 1.

An operator standing at the point :12, places the hands as they are delivered from the upper run of the belt 1, onto the upper runs of the belts 7 and it will be noticed that the said belts extend beyond the chains 10 at the inlet end of the cutting mechanism. As the hands, still unbound, are carried past the cutters, the leaves are separated into two portions, the hands being arranged with the butts toward the operator at m, and with the tips of the hands in approximate alinement, so that the cut oil tips of leaves are of approximately the same' length.

The cut ends are delivered into the chute 8, while the tips are delivered into the chute 9. The tip ends are suitable for further processing, such, for instance, as flavoring, in the manner set forth in Patent No. 1,607,135, of November 16, 1926, while the butts are subjected to a disintegrating action, to break up the stem portions, and to remove the lamina therefrom. Thelamina recovered in the process of disintegration may be utilized in the same manner as the tips, so far as concerns the larger portions, while the smaller portions in the dry state are agglomerated with the tips or larger portions.

The butt ends are delivered by the chute 8 into a conditioning cylinder indicated generally at C, and comprising the cylinder 15, mounted to rotate, and having guide rings 16 for engaging fixed supporting rollers, which are rotated in any suitable manner, to cause the cylinder to rotate. The cylinder is inclined as shown, and is supplied with steam from a suitable source, by means of a pipe 17 the said pipe having a branch delivering to the cylinder.

The cylinder 15 delivers on to an endless conveyor 18 of usual type, and connected to the prime mover at 19 to operate the same, and the cylinder passes the conditioned tobacco on to the first breaker, indicated generally at D, which is also supplied with steam from the pipe 17, through a branch pipe 20.

The breaker D is one of a series of similar mechanisms, one of which will be later described in detail, and the object of each is to thoroughly separate the lamina from the stem portion. A conveyor 21 receives the tobacco from the breakerD and passes it on to a cleaning jigger or screen E, which may be of the Rotex type, and is composed generally of a screen 22, which is shifted longitudinally in guides, and is connected to the prime mover as indicated at 23. The screen.

frame is inclined downwardly from the operating mechanism, and from the conveyor 21, and the jigger delivers to a conveyor 22a of the usual construction, which in turn delivers to the first blower F. This blower is one of a similar series, and will be described in detail later.

The blower F discharges a part of the tobacco in opposite directions by mechanism to be described, on to picker belts 24 and 25. These are endless belts, supported by rollers 26 at opposite sides of the line of breakers and blowers, and connected with the prime mover in any suitable manner. Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the opposite sides of each picker belt are provided with guards 27 which retain the tobacco on the belts. The blower F delivers to a second blower I of the same type, by means of a conveyor 28.

The blower I delivers by means of a conveyor 29 to the second breaker J, which in turn delivers by a conveyor 30 to the third blower K. The third blower K delivers by a conveyor 31 to the fourth blower L. All of the blowers deliver a part of the tobacco to the picker belts, passing the remainder on to a succeeding mechanism, and the fourth blower F delivers to the third breaker M by means of a conveyor 32.

The third breaker M passes the tobacco on by means of a conveyor 33 to the fifth blower N, which is like the remaining blowers, and delivers in turn by a conveyor 34 to the fourth breaker O. The fourth breaker O delivers by a conveyor 35 to the sixth blower P, which in turn delivers by a conveyor 36 to the fifth breaker Q.

This breaker delivers by a conveyor 37 to the seventh blower R, which is like the remaining blowers, delivering the lighter articles to the picker belts, and the heavier parts on to a belt 38, which returns the particles to the third breaker. The belt is supported by rollers 39, one of which is conment which facilitates nected to the prime mover. All of the conveyors and breakers are connected to the prime mover, as indicated at 41, but each of the blowers has a separate motor, indicated at 41a, for driving the same.

It will be noticed referring to Fig. 1, that the blending mechanism, the cutting mechanism, and the conditioning cylinder are arranged in alinement, and that the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh blowers are in alinement with the second, third, fourth and fifth breakers, this line of breakers and blowers being parallel with the line formed by the blending mechanism, the cutting mechanism and the conditioning cylinder. The jigger and the first breaker are arranged in alinement at right angle to the first named lines, and the movement of the tobacco is continuous from the blending mechanism on through to the last blower.

Fig. 2 shows the first breaker, the conveyor 21, and the jigger in section. Referring to this figure, it will be seen that each of the breakers is composed of a substantially cylindrical casing 42, having an inlet 43, an outlet 44, and a door 45, which is hinged to the casing at 46 and has mechanism indicated at 47 for holding it closed. The conveyor 18 delivers to the inlet 43, which is at the top of the casing and somewhat to'the rear. The outlet 44 which delivers to the conveyor 21 is at the bottom and slightly to the rear, being in fact directly below the inlet 43. The casing is supported by a suitable frame 48.

This frame has bearings 49, in which is journaled a shaft 50 carrying a cylinder indicated at 51. The cylinder is connected to the shaft by spiders 52, which are keyed to the shaft, and the cylinder has outwardly extending teeth 53, which cooperate with inwardly extending teeth 54 on the casing, the teeth 53 moving between the teeth 54.

It will be noticed referring to Fig. 2, that the teeth 54 are on the door 45, an arrangecleaning of the breaker, and permits easy replacement of the teeth 54, if for any reason they should be injured. The jigger, as shown in Fig. 2, is composed of the screen frame 22, which is r an inverted box structure, the bottom being covered by screen cloths indicated at 55 and 56. Bars 57 triangular in cross section are arranged between the cloths to hold them spaced, and a bottom 58 is provided for the ;frame below the lowermost cloth, for receiving the dust, and the like, which passes through the screens. This bottom is pro vided with a discharge 59, which may deliver the dirt into a suitable container 60.

The screened tobacco passes from the lower end of the screen 55, the frame being inclined as shown from the belt 21, and through a chute 61, on to the conveyor 22a.

The screen frame is reciprocated by mech- :anism indicated generally at 62, which is operated by a belt 63. The upper'end of the belt 21 delivers into a hood 64, which has a flexible chute connected with an inlet in the top of the screen frame.

In Figs. 4 and 5, a pair of blowers is shown, the function of which is to remove the attached lamina by means of an air blast or blasts acting directly upon the falling leaf and stem portions. Each of these blowers includes a suitable frame 66, and in each frame is supported a pair of substantially cylindrical fan casings 67 and 68, the fan casings being arranged one above the other, and each has a tangential outlet 69 and 7 0 respectively, the said inlets being arranged to be regulated as to the extent of the opening in the usual manner.

Within each casing is arranged a fan 73 and 74 respectively of usual construction, each fan including a shaft having radial blades, and each shaft is provided with a pulley 75 outside the casing. The pulleys of the two fans are connected by a belt 76, so that the fans operate in unison. The upper wall of the outlet 69 of the lower fan is connected to the lower wall of the outlet by a plate 77, and a plate 77a extends from the upper wall of the outlet 70, the said plate forming a part of an inlet 78 for the blower. The conveyor which in the present instance is the conveyor 23 delivers into the inlet 78, and it will be noticed that the tobacco passing from the inlet falls directly past the outlets 69 and 70, and in front of said outlets.

Chutes indicated at 79 and 80 form what are in effect continuations of the outlets 69 and 70, but spaced apart at their adjacent ends from the outlets, so that the tobacco falling from the inlet 78 may pass between the outlets 6970 and the chutes 79-80.

Each outlet delivers its blast of air through the adjacent chute and directly upon and through the falling leaf and stem portions to separate the lighter from the heavier particles.

The outlets 69 and 7 0 of the fan casings are directed upwardly at an angle of about 30, while the angle of the chutes 79-80 is about 60. A perforate hood 81 is arranged above the outlet of the chutes, toretain the tobacco blown through the chutes, and deliver it into troughs 82 and 83, the said troughs diverging toward the opposite picker belts, as shown in Fig. 5.

While the air may pass freely through the hood 81, the tobacco is retained, and falls on to the dividing line between the troughs, a part falling onto one picker belt and a part onto the other. Only the lighter particles of the tobacco are blown through chutes 79 and 80, the stem portions falling to an outlet 84 below the inlet 69 and the bottom of the chutes, on to the conveyor 28, which carries the heavier particles to the second blower.

In Fig. 4:, the first and second blowers F and I, are shown, and it will be understood that all the blowers are alike. Each is d ouble, having means to deliver through the falling particles a double blast, one above the other, and having chutes through which the tobacco blown out by each blast is delivered.

In operation the tobacco, in hands, is laid upon the blending conveyor 1, it being understood that each heap 2 contains a selected quality of tobacco, and the hands from the several heaps are arranged on the belt to provide the desired blending. The operator at :1: positions the hands for operation by the cutting mechanism, which separates them into tip and stem portions, the tip portions being delivered directly from the mechanism, while the stem portions pass on to the conditioning cylinder, where the tobacco is conditioned. The first breaker D separates a part of the lamina, and delivers the partial- 1y disintegrated stem portions on to the jigger' Where the tobacco is thoroughly screened, all of the dirt, sand, and the like, being shaken. out.

From the jigger the stem portions are passed in succession through the several breakers and blowers to each breaker removing more of the lamina from the stem, while each blower delivers by means of a blast or'blasts of air the bulk of. the re moved lamina to the pickerbelts, and the remaining stem portions to the succeeding breaker. When the operation of the fifth breaker Q is completed, the quantity of tobacco has'been materially reduced by the discharge of lamina, and the return of the r-e-' maining stem portions tothe third breakerhas no tendency to overload the mechanism.

The breakers are in fact threshers, which break up the levers and stems into fragments, tearing the lighter lamina from the stems, and the lamina is discharged by blasts of air directly from the mechanism on to the picker belts. The tobacco passes by gravity in front of the fans, and the lighter particles are removed by a blast, which is of calculated velocity, sufiicient to remove only the lamina,

without affecting the stem. portions, which fall from the blower. I

In each of the breakers the leaves may be conditioned by means of steam. It will be noticed referring to Fig. 1, that each breaker -D, J, M, O and Q, is supplied with steam from the pipe 17, by a branch pipe 90. While a cutting mechanism is shown for separating the leaf tips, it is apparent that this might be dispensed with, if desirable, in which case the leaves would be fed directly from the blending mechanism to the conditioning cylinder.

Due to the fact that the lighter lamina portions are discharged from the advancing stream immediately following the disintegrating operations amuch greater percentage of large lamina portions" are recovered and a lower percentage of small lamina portions or air blast winnowing operations by the adj ai cent breakers, so far as concerns the breakers D and J. Afterwards the leaves are subjected to alternating operations of disintegration and air blast winnowing, in the breakers O- and Q, and the blowers N and P. This last named succession is a cycle, and is continued until all of the lamina is separated. At each blower a part of the stems which have been stripped is discharged, and lamina which has been separated is also discharged by means of an air blast.

It will be apparent that the leaves may be fed to the machine otherwise than in hands. That is, the leaves may be fed singly or in bunches of loose leaves. The blending feature is purely optional, and may be used or not, as desired, depending'upon the nature of the product to be manufactured from the stripped leaves.

The moisteni-ng 01" conditioning of the leaves, as by steam, prior to their subjection of the operation of the disintegrators, softens the stems and lamina, and thus avoids the production of an undue quantity of so called shorts, during the disintegrating operation. While two picker belts are shown, and a plurality of chutes for each blower, delivering to the separate belts, it is apparent that butonechutemaybeemployed,alloftheblown out particles being delivered to the one chute and to a single picker belt. The use of two belts is advantageous for the reason that the tobacco thereon is more accessible to the picker, since the quantity of blown out tobacco on each picker is but half of the total output.

The separation of the leaves into two portions and the removal of the lighter portions prior to disintegration may be dispensed with, and the leaves fed directly into the first disintegrator. It has'been found from actual commercial operation of the method and ap paratus as described, that the daily output perunit per day, isfar greater than with any other known methods and apparatus; that the stripped tobacco is much cleaner; that less power is required to operate the apparatus; that a smaller quantity of so called fines is produced, and that disintegrated particles of the lamina are larger.

All of the stationary teeth in the breaker are carried by the concave, and it will be noticed that the concave is directly opposite a line connecting inlet with the outlet. The tobacco falling on the cylinder is carried toward the concave, and the arrangement of the concave, between the inlet and the outlet in the line of travel of the tobacco, and of less area than the space between the inlet and the outlet on that side of the machine, limits the travel of the leaves through the breaker to a single passage from the inlet to the outlet. That is, there is no tendency of the leaves to be carried around and around by the cylinder, which action tends to increase the quantity of fines and shorts. The concave covers only a portion of the area in the path of travel between the inlet and the outlet. The cylinder is also of open construction, so that the distintegrated lamina may escape through the cylinder. This avoids clogging, and in practice, the concave has a breakable connection at the point 46, so that undue pressure will break the connection, forcing the concave outwardly, and relieving the pressure within the casing. The breakable connection may be at 46, or it may be at 47.

What is claimed as new is 1. The method of stripping tobacco, which comprises subjecting the leaves to the successive action of a series of disintegrators, dropping the disintegrated leaves from a higher to a lower level between each successive disintegrator, and directing a blast of air from below, through the falling leaves in a generally upward direction to directly remove the detached lamina from the circulation immediately following each disintegrating operation.

2. The method of stripping tobacco, which I comprises subjecting the leaves to the succes sive action of a series of disintegrators, dropping the disintegrated leaves from a higher to a lower level between each successive disintegrator, and directing a succession of blasts of air through the falling leaves from beneath them in a generally upward direction to separately discharge the detached lamina from the circulation immediately following each disintegrating operation.

3. Apparatus for stripping'tobacco, comprising a series of alternating and successively operating disintegrators and blowers, the blowers having means to discharge the lighter particles directly from the circulation by a blast of air directed from beneath said particles, said blowers being arranged in pairs between at least two of the successively operating disintegrators, each blower being double, each including a pair of fans one above the other, a chute for each fan spaced apart from the outlet thereof, each blower having an inlet for directing the falling leaves between the fan outlets and the chutes and across the path of the blasts of air.

4. Apparatus for stripping tobacco, 'comprising a series of alternating disintegrators and blowers, the blowers having means to discharge the lighter particles directly from the circulation by a blast of air directed from beneath said particles, said blowers being arranged in pairs between at least two of the successively operating disintegrators, each blower being double, each including a pair of fans one above the other, a chute for each fan spaced apart from the outlet thereof, each blower having an inlet for directing the falling leaves between the fan outlets and the chutes and intersecting the path of the air blasts, said chutes delivering to opposite sides of the blower.

5. Apparatus for stripping tobacco, including a plurality of mechanisms arranged to operate successively upon the leaves, and including a disintegrating mechanism, a screening mechanism, a series of successively arranged alternating breaking and blowing mechanisms, through which the leaf portions are passed in succession, each of the blowing mechanisms including a plurality of fans, each having an inlet and an outlet, a chute arranged in alinement with each outlet and spaced apart therefrom, and means to deliver the tobacco to each blower to fall between the outlets and the chutes and across the path of the blasts of air from the blowing mechanisms.

6. Apparatus for. stripping tobacco, including a plurality of mechanlsms arranged to operate successively upon the leaves, and including a disintegrating mechanism, a screening mechanism, a series of successively arranged alternating breaking and blowing mechanisms, through which the leaves are passed in recurring cycles, each of the blowing mechanisms including a plurality of fans, each having an inlet and an outlet, a chute arranged in alinement with each outlet and spaced apart therefrom, and'means to deliver the tobacco to each blower to fall between the outlets and the chutes, .and a lateral discharge for each chute, said discharges extending toward opposite sides of theblower.

7 Apparatus for stripping tobacco, comprising a series of alternating disintegrators and blowers, the blowers having air blast means to discharge the lighter leaf particles directly from the circulation, each disintegrator including a substantially cylindrical casing arranged with its axis horizontal, a single cylinder j ournaled within the casing and provided with disintegrating teeth, the casing having an inlet for the tobacco at its top, and an outlet at the bottom, the inlet and outlet being on the same side of the axis, the casing having a removable concave on the opposite side provided with teeth cooperating withthe teeth of the cylinder.

8. Apparatus for stripping tobacco, comprising a series of alternating disintegrators and blowers, means to discharge the lighter leaf particles directly from the circulation, each disintegrator comprising a toothed cylinder, a casing for the cylinder having an inlet at its top and an outlet at its bottom, both at one side of the blowers having air blast moistening the leaves duringthe disintegrating operations.

10. The method of stripping tobacco, which comprises subjecting the leaves to a series of disintegrating operations, blowing the detached lamina from the circulation between successive operations by a blast of air directed from below through the leaves, and conditioning or moistening the leaves during the disintegrating operations, and prior to their entrance to the circulation.

11. Apparatus for stripping tobacco, comprising a series of alternating disintegrators and blowers, the blowers having means to discharge the lighter'particles directly from the circulation, and means to condition or r moisten the leaves while they are in the disintegrator.

12. Apparatus for stripping tobacco, comprising a series of alternating disintegrators and blowers, the blowers having means to discharge the lighter particles directly from the circulation by.a blast of air directed from beneath said particles, said blowers being arranged in pairs between successive disintegrators, each blower being double, each including a pair of fans one above the other, a chute for each fan spaced apart from the outlet thereof,- each blower having an inlet for directing the falling leaves between the fan outlets and the chutes and intersectingv the path of the air blasts, said chutes delivering to opposite sides of the blower, and an endlessbelt to receive the product from each chute.

'13. Apparatus for stripping tobacco, including a plurality of mechanisms arranged to operate successively upon the leaves, and including a disintegrating mechanism, a screening mechanism, a series of successively arranged alternating breaking and blowing mechanisms, through which the leaves are passed in succession, each of the blowing mechanisms including a plurality of fans, each having an inlet and an outlet, a divided chute arranged in alinement with each'outlet and spaced apart therefrom, and means to. deliver the tobacco to each blower to fall between the outlets and the chutes, a lateral discharge for each chute, said discharges extending toward opposite sides of the blower,

and an endless belt at each side of the apparatus positioned to receive the tobacco discharged from the chutes. I

. 14. Apparatus'for stripping tobacco, comprising a series of alternating andsuccessive- 1y operating disintegrators and blowers, each disintegrator having a single cylinder and concave only and the several blowers each having means to discharge the lighter detached leaf portions directly from the circu lation by a blast ofair directed upwardly from beneath said portions, and an endless belt at each side ofthe apparatus for receiving and exposing to view the tobacco por tions discharged'thereon from the series of blowers.

15. The method of stripping tobacco which consists in breaking up the leaves including their stems, advancing a stream of the broken leaves and leaf stems and subjecting them to the successive action of a. series of disintegrating operations and removing the detached lamina from the streamat points immediately following each disintegrating stage by a blast of air directed from below through the broken stem and lamina portions. e

16. The steps in the method of'stripping tobacco which comprise subjecting an advancing stream of broken leaves and leaf stems to the successive action of a series of disintegrating operations and removing the detached lamina from the stream at points immediately following each disintegrating stage by a blast of air directed from below through the broken stem and lamina portions.

17. The steps in the method-of stripping tobacco which comprise subjecting an advancing stream of broken leaf and leaf stems to the successive action of a series of disintegrating operations, and immediately removing the lighter detached lamina fromthe heavier stem and'leaf portions at points 'between adjacentdisintegrating stages by successively acting blasts of air directed from below through the advancing stream.

18. Apparatus for stripping tobacco comprising a plurality of disintegrators arranged in series and each consisting of a single toothed cylinder and concave enclosed within a casing having an outlet opening in its bottom, means for advancing a stream of broken leaves and leaf stems through the said series of disintegrators successively, and a blower located adjacent and following each disintegrator and operable to remove the dew tached lamina from the advancing stream by a blast of air directed from below through the stream. I r

19. Apparatus for stripping tobacco comprising a plurality of disintegrators arranged in series and each consisting of a single rotary cylinder and concave having cooperative teeth, each cylinder and concave enclosed within a casing having an inlet opening" at its top and an outlet opening at its bottom, means for advancing a stream of broken leavesand leaf stems through the said series ity of blowers located adjacent and immediately following each disintegrator, operating to remove the detached laminafrom the advancing stream by a succession of blasts of air directed from below through the stream.

Signed at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, this 29th day of September, A. D. 1928.

CHARLES GREEN MAXWELL. 

